Smoking, grilling, and Dutch Oven cooking provide a variety of methods for preparing food. Each has their own unique techniques and offer a plethora of culinary experiences.
Smoking:
Smoking meat creates incredible flavor and infuses food with smoky undertones. As the wood slowly smolders, the aroma and flavors of the smoke permeate the meat adding more flavor to it. Different kinds of woods provide different tastes. Wood is the most common option and fruit woods tend to be the favorite, however, there are electric and pellet burning options available.
Smoking involves low and slow cooking over indirect heat. Lower temperatures and a longer cook time are the keys to great smoking.
Smoking requires proper temperature control and can often take hours of involvement to get the food just right.
When we think of smoking, we tend to think of meat. Beef, chicken, pork and fish. But fruits, vegetables and side dishes are also easily made using the smoking method. The unique flavor that smoking provides makes it one of the best ways to level up your cooking ability.
Grilling:
Grilling is one of the most fun methods of cooking.
Grilling is very different than smoking. It provides high direct heat over an open flame or hot coals for quick cooking and the added char everyone loves. There are many options to choose from. Gas, charcoal, pellet, electric or maybe even wood. Each require different times and techniques when using them. If using wood, it too offers smoky flavors like smoking but are less pronounced.
One of the main reasons people love to grill is because of the flavor. Grilling is usually used to prepare smaller, thinner foods and uses direct heat to create a seared crust or char on the outside but maintaining juicy tenderness on the inside.
Versatility and speed are defining features of grilling. Grilling allows you to achieve grill marks and char in a matter of minutes. Whether you are cooking seafood, vegetables, hamburgers or steaks the high heat caramelizes the exterior of the food and seals in the juices.
Vegetables, fruit and side dishes all cook well on the grill too. Often times grills provide different areas of temperature to be able to cook multiple things at the same time.
Dutch Oven Cooking:
Dutch Ovens are thick-walled pots with tight fitting lids. They are often made of cast iron and are a versatile method of cooking that can range from low and slow to more intense heat, depending on how it is used. It utilizes heat and moisture retention for even cooking yielding rich, flavorful dishes. Dutch oven cooking is suitable for braising, baking, stewing and roasting.
Dutch Ovens are most often heated with briquettes or coal from a campfire. They can be used directly in fires or buried in a pit. Cooking outdoors can be tricky. The wind, outdoor temperatures, rain and other conditions can affect your cook time and temperatures.
Allow 30 minutes for the preparation of your briquettes. Wait until they turn light gray over about half of the coals before using. To heat a 12" Dutch Oven to 350 degrees, you will need approximately 10-12 coals on the bottom and 14-18 on top. An easy way to determine how many coals you will need is to add 3 to the size of your Dutch Oven: 12" +3 is 15 coals. Put those on top. Subtract a couple from the size of the Dutch Oven to determine the number you need on the bottom.
One of the great things about Dutch Ovens is that they are easily adaptable for ovens, grills and even smokers if needed.
Another thing that is awesome is that they are not limited to just meat, vegetables, fruit and side dishes. Baking bread, cakes, desserts and even biscuits can be achieved using a Dutch Oven.
Using any of these 3 options is certain to level up your cooking experience!
Baking bread, cakes, desserts and even biscuits can be achieved using a Dutch Oven.